Chapter 7

With sunlight streaming down into the bedroom, Shelby found it difficult to sleep. She found her nightgown and put it on while Sebastian continued to sleep. She put an extra robe on over her bedclothes and went to sit at the window. She sat to watch some people who were already doing their work in the courtyard.

Shelby turned to look behind her when she heard noise coming from that direction where she discovered that Sebastian was getting up. After solving the mystery of what the noise was, Shelby turned her attention back to what was going on outside.

Sebastian was silent as he went to the other side of the room where the wardrobes were to get dressed. "You're not usually up this early – before I am," Sebastian spoke.

"Well, it's kind of hard to sleep when you've been raped and physically abused by the man who's supposed to be your husband."

Sebastian rolled his eyes. "I've told you we need an heir to the throne. If you're not willing to comply–"

"I'm not."

"Then I guess you're just going to have to deal with it."

"I won't!" Shelby exclaimed as she stood from the table. "You're going to have to deal with the fact that I will never work with you on this having an heir to the throne thing because I hate you and I hate everything you've put me through in the last week. I'm a prisoner because of you!"

"You were the one who decided to jump on my back and come with me through that glowing tunnel."

"I was trying to stop you from taking Daisy. She doesn't love you and I don't love you."

"I don't love you or her either. I just want to be the King and rule the land that belongs to Daisy's family."

"You're so conceited."

"So what if I'm conceited?"

"You're egotistical. You only think about yourself. You don't care about anyone but you and to you, you're the only one who matters."

"I care about other things as well. Like my siblings and my parents and making sure I have a son to rule the kingdom after me."

"Wow. It takes such a big person to care about their family!" Shelby exclaimed sarcastically. "Especially when their family obviously cares for them. And the fact that you just want a son to rule after you only proves my point even more."

"Oh, save your breath. You talk so much. Why can't you understand that women like you are meant to just stand beside their husbands and look good."

"Because we're not actually meant to just do that. In my time, women can do anything they want. They can even have the jobs that men would normally have."

"What? Like fighting in wars?"

"Yes, actually. The US Military is made up of men and women."

"What exactly is the US Military?"

"My country's military in the 21st century. US stands for United States. Here, there's another 200 years until the country will be established. Actually, more," Shelby added as an afterthought.

"Sounds wonderful," Sebastian said sarcastically. He was about to make another biting comment but was cut off by a knock on the door.

"It's Lucinda. Are you awake?" the woman's voice spoke from the other side of the bedroom door.

"Yes we are," Sebastian answered. He walked over to the door to let Lucinda in. "I'll be going now. See you later," he said to Shelby as he walked past Lucinda and out of the room.

"Is there any possible way I can divorce him?" Shelby asked once the door had closed behind Sebastian.

"I am afraid there is not."

Shelby sighed in response to the answer Lucinda had given her, but followed Lucinda to the wardrobe. A few minutes later, Lucinda had helped Shelby get into her dress for the day. As normal, Shelby's breakfast was brought into the room a few minutes after Lucinda left. Shelby ate at the table she had put by the window, but left the room as soon as she had finished eating. She had a lot on her mind and wanted to go somewhere on her own where no one would disturb her and where it was unlikely she would be found. The only delay she made in going to the library was getting the book she had left in her room.

Upon entering the library, Shelby immediately went to the desk where she had hidden the pages of her journal. There were several thoughts that had been racing through her mind since the night before that she needed to write down and put to words.

It was the most depressing of all the entries she had written so far. She ended up thinking about what life would be like if she was stuck in the 1500s forever. On top of that, she couldn't help but think of what would happen in 2017 if she never got back. There would be no trace left of her to know what might have happened, and no one other than her friends would really know what had happened to her. She dreaded the thought of what could happen without her there, but she had to think about it so she could write it down for her own sanity.

When Shelby finished writing the entry, she tucked the paper, pen, and ink back into the place where they belonged and blew the candle out. She'd abandoned the book where she normally sat to read and returned to it. Shelby decided she would spend the entire day hidden in the library. If she spent the entire day in there, she wouldn't have to see Sebastian and she'd have some sort of freedom from him, even if she was stuck within the confines of the castle.

A low growl from her stomach hours later reminder Shelby that although she wanted to avoid Sebastian, she did still need to eat. "Okay," she spoke to her stomach. "We'll go eat." Shelby marked her page in the book and put it back on the shelf before making her way back out of the library.

"My Queen! There you are!" a voice exclaimed soon after Shelby left the library.

Shelby turned to find one of the servants she was beginning to become familiar with approaching her "Here I am," she replied. "Is something wrong?"

"No, you were just meant to have lunch nearly an hour ago. Where have you been?"

"Oh, um, I was– just around. I found a quiet place and was just sitting there and thinking," she lied, meeting him in the hall. "I lost track of time."

"Are you ready to eat them Queen Shelby?"

"Yes," she answered, walking to the dining hall with him. Shelby ate her lunch by herself and returned to the library without saying anything else to anyone.

In the time after lunch that Shelby was once again in the library, she finished the book she had been reading. Rather than starting another one, Shelby sat at the window and looked out towards the grounds. The window she sat at in the library looked out to a different direction than the one in her room, and it was night to see things from a different view.

Off in the distance from the library, Shelby thought she could see what looked like a horse stable. It seemed logical enough to have horses at the castle in a kingdom, especially when she considered the fact that Sebastian's family had been brought to the castle via horse drawn carriages. She'd have to ask Lucinda later about it either that night if she had the chance or the following morning. Hopefully it would be that night rather than the following morning before Shelby's curiosity got the best of her.

If it had to be the morning until Shelby was able to talk to Lucinda, that would also mean that she would be stuck talking only to Sebastian that night. It would mean that like several nights before, Sebastian would be the one to help her get out of the dress. He would find any way he could to annoy her. She hated the feeling of his hands on her skin and the way he would 'offer' to help her change at night just to physically intimidate her.

After a while and realizing that it was likely getting close to being dinner time, Shelby decided to leave the library. Once she left the library, she wandered the halls, hoping that she wouldn't end up crossing paths with Sebastian.

While Shelby wandered the halls back to the room, she worked to memorize the twists and turns in a way that could only be done through experiencing it. She'd gone through the same thing when she needed to learn the way through the hallways of her high school when she was a freshman.

"Shelby!"

Shelby couldn't help but let out a sigh. Sebastian's voice echoed through the deserted halls. "What is it, Sebastian?" she scoffed, turning to face him.

"It's time for dinner."

"Great. Do I have to eat with you or can I eat in our room in perfect silence away from you?"

"You're my wife, of course you have to eat with me."

"Are you really sure I have to eat with you? Are you also sure I'm really your wife?"

"Yes. To both of your questions."

"Awesome," was Shelby's sarcastic reply as she went to meet Sebastian in the hall and then continue to have dinner.

"What did you do today?"

"Well, I thought about how much I hate you and hate what you did to me because you're so desperate to have an heir to the throne. And before you tell me we need someone to rule after us, yes, I know we do need to have a child. I really don't want to have your children; yet here you are, forcing me to be your wife and bear your future children."

"Well, at least we're clear on that."

Shelby rolled her eyes. The rest of the walk to the dining hall was a quiet one. As with every other time Shelby and Sebastian ate alone, they sat on opposite sides of the table and ate in silence.

When they finished eating, Shelby went back to the library to find something to read. While Sebastian went to do whatever he normally did, Shelby thought she'd read like she did the night before. She'd hope for the best unlike the night before.

CHCHCH

Shelby was thankful when the first person to enter the room after she did later that night was Lucinda rather than Sebastian. "I'm glad to see you," Shelby spoke, marking her page in the book. "I actually have a question for you."

"Okay."

"I noticed that there was a horse stable outside. Did Daisy have a horse?"

"Yes she did. I've been taking care of her horse while I kept her hidden away in the tower. Would you like to help take care of her as well?"

"Yes!" Shelby exclaimed, her eyes lit up in a way they hadn't since she was first stuck in the 16th century.

"Why don't I take you down to the stables tomorrow once you've finished breakfast."

"That sounds awesome," Shelby smiled. "I've hardly been outside the castle at all. I would love to see Daisy's horse."

"She's a beautiful black stallion. The only thing is that she's used to namely me and Daisy so you will need to be careful and gentle with her a first."

"I completely understand. Just let me know what I need to do when we go to see her and I'll do it."

"As you wish. Now, would you like to change?"

"Yes. Thank you." Shelby and Lucinda headed to the other side of the room where Lucinda helped Shelby change. After changing, Shelby decided to go right to sleep and she never heard Sebastian enter the room that night.

A/N: This really is kind of a filler chapter that was really just meant to introduce Shelby seeing the horse stable. Anyway, I'd love to know what you thought or how I can improve. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Reviews:

sweetsimplegirl: I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter and hope you enjoyed this one as well even though it's a bit dull and lacks all that much action. Since I have a lot of the chapters already written, right now it would be hard to put a whole lot of Sebastian's thoughts in, especially with this very Shelby-centric chapter. There will be some explanation of Sebastian's thoughts later in the story. I haven't considered a whole lot what Sebastian's attraction to Shelby would be, but I supposed he would be at least somewhat attracted to her. Thanks for the consistant reviews. :)